Satisfaction with Nursing Care from the Inpatients' Perspective in Prince Salman Armed Forced Hospital Tabuk , Saudi Arabia

Background: Patient satisfaction with nursing care is important for any health care agency because nurses comprise the majority of health care providers and they provide care for patients 24 hours a day. Objectives: To assess nursing care from patients` perspective as well as to study the difference in the level of patients` satisfaction and their perspectives in relation to demographic background of patients and hospital characteristics. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of inpatients in Prince Salman Armed Forces hospital, Tabuk, KSA from all main departments (medical, surgical, nephrology, orthopedic and obstetrics & gynecology departments). Arabic version of Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing scale (NSNS) was used for data collection. Results: Out of 420 patients invited to participate in the study, 414 filled in the questionnaires giving a response rate of 98.6%. The study included 414 admitted patients. Their age ranged between 18 and 74 with a mean of 38.5 (SD=14.2) years. Males represent 59.4% of them. 44.9% of patients reported below good, while 55.1% of them reported good experience of nursing care score. None of the participants reported above good (>80%) experience of nursing care score. The participants were mostly experienced with team work between Doctors and nurses and collaboration between nurses of different shifts. 73.9% of patients reported low ( 80%) satisfaction with nursing care score. Male, higher educated patients, those admitted to obstetrics and gynecology and stayed for 2-3 weeks in hospitals were more likely to express higher experience of nursing care and satisfaction with nursing care scores. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction with nursing care is generally low in the recent study. The findings provide nurses with information about aspects that enhance or hinder patient satisfaction.